President's Cookbook Women's Network a worthwhile organization

Wednesday

WOOSTER -- Dianne Hange enjoys getting together with family and friends. And she also loves her job -- getting families together with the homes of their dreams.

Hange has been a real estate agent since 1993 and is affiliated with the Howard Hanna Smythe Cramer office. She is a member of the county, state and national Realtor associations and Pinnacle Network of Professional Advisors. She is a cabinet member of the United Way Campaign, a committee member for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, member of Family & Consumer Science Association and was a 4-H adviser for 14 years.

Another group Hange enjoys and believes is a truly worthwhile organization is the Wayne County Women's Network.

"Personally, I feel that this is a very positive group of women who encourage each other professionally and personally," she said.

"Our chapter began in 1985 and is now a division of Women's Network of Northeast Ohio. We support, encourage and advocate for women in the work force, at school and in the home. Our goals are to meet other women from a variety of professions and backgrounds, to increase social and professional contacts, gain emotional support from others in the business world and to serve as a support group for achieving full potential in any endeavor a woman chooses," said Hange.

Among projects sponsored by WCWN, the group provides scholarships for women returning to, or entering an academic program, through the Judith Resnick Scholarship Fund.

Many will recognize the Women's Network as a sponsor of the ATHENA award, given each spring to individuals for professional excellence, service to the community and for actively assisting women in reaching their professional goals and leadership skills.

Hange added that the local award was established in 1982 and that today there are more than 5,200 ATHENA Awards presented in the United States, Canada, China, India, Russia and the United Kingdom.

As part of the Wayne County Women's Network, Hange also is a member of the committee that plans and publicizes the meetings. On Nov. 13, the group will meet at 7 p.m. at the Viola Startzman Clinic to hear Traci Hanger Hoffman speak on the power of positive thinking on health issues. The Dec. 11 meeting will be from 5-7 p.m. at Montavino's Wine Market and those attending are being asked to take teddy bears to be donated to needy children. The Jan. 22 meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the Wayne County Public Library in Wooster with a panel of professional organizers.

Hange adds that membership in the Women's Network is free and everyone is welcome. Those who wish may join the Women's Network of Northeast Ohio at a cost of $75 per year.

Hange has been a Wooster resident for 27 years and considers this her home. She originally is from Massachusetts and her family is still there. She is married to Donald Hange and his family is from Medina County. He is in sales in animal genetics. The Hanges are the parents of Dennis, a senior at Bowling Green State University, and Doug, an Ohio State University graduate who is working for Ford as a zone manager in Florida.

Dianne Hange earned a bachelor's degree in home economics from the University of Massachusetts and a master's degree in communications from OSU. She still watches OSU football games and also cheers on the Wooster Generals. Other hobbies include gardening and traveling "to warm places."

"When we are all together, we enjoy comfort foods like meatloaf, lasagna and homemade vegetable soup," Hange said about family favorites, but she added that her personal favorite foods would be "everything chocolate and anything my husband, Don, cooks on the grill."